PS 




American Dramatists Series 



Mnber tfje Cagle 



Borotfjp potter 




Class /"rV <-^» r) j 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



American Drainatists Series 

UNDER THE 
EAGLE 

Three Plays with a 
Prologue and Epilogue 

DOROTHY POTTER 




BOSTON : THE GORHAM PRESS 

TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 



Copyright, 1916, by Dorothy Potter 



All Rights Reserved 



-^ (t) N^ 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



/ 

WAR 10 19(6 

©ol.O 4G25D 



CONTENTS 

The Prologue 7 

"Watchful Waiting" 19 

Yellow Yielding 35 

"Bombast and Platitudes" 53 

Epilogue 69 



THE PROLOGUE 



Characters : 

The Statesman. 

The Citizen. 
Place : 

The Statesman s office. 
Time: 

Present. 



UNDER THE EAGLE 



THE PROLOGUE 

Scene: The STATESMAN'S office, handsome 
and practical. 

At Rise: The STATESMAN sits at his desk 
gazing abstractedly at a calling card, which he holds 
in his hand. 

( The CITIZEN enters — a well-dressed, business- 
like citizen. 

The STATESMAN turns in his swivel chair, 
notes the CITIZEN and rises politely.) 
CITIZEN 
You are the Statesman. 

STATESMAN 
(Smiling.) Yes — if you like. 
{Referring to card.) And you are — 

CITIZEN 
Never mind the name. I'm a citizen, that's all. 
If you must qualify me further call me the Thinking 
Citizen. I've done a good deal of it lately. 
STATESMAN 
Will you sit down? 

CITIZEN 
Thanks. (He sits.) I'm here to bore you for as 
long a time as you allow it. 

STATESMAN 
(Pointedly.) Just at present, I am at leisure. 

CITIZEN 
(Earnestly.) Perhaps you can put me right — 
that's all I'm after — to be put right. I'm not partisan 

7 



8 UNDER THE EAGLE 

or fanatic or prejudiced or excited, I'm not even in 
an argumentative mood ; I'm worried and I want to 
be convinced that I'm wrong. If you can do that, 
I'll go away very much — relieved. 

STATESMAN 
That's part of my business, convincing people. 
{Hastily.) That is, convincing them that what I do 
is right. 

CITIZEN 
Yes, yes. 

STATESMAN 
Of course, if your trouble comes from some situ- 
ation for which I am not responsible — 

CITIZEN 

You are responsible — at least, partly responsible, 
jointly responsible. 

STATESMAN 

Oh, well, as long as I'm in it, you may come to me 
for an explanation. 

CITIZEN 

{Apologetically.) I couldn't clearly fix the blame 
on any one person or set of persons. A lot of you 
seemed culpable, and I had to put it up to someone 
so I chose you. 

STATESMAN 

Now we understand each other. 
CITIZEN 

I said — culpable. I don't mean it, I don't want to 
mean any such thing, but I see things and think 
them over and I can't help feeling that something is 
wrong. I don't want anything to be wrong. I want 
you to tell me there isn't — to prove that there isn't. I 
want you to convince me that I am a fool. 



THE PROLOGUE 9 

STATESMAN 

{With involuntary pride.) I have done just that. 

CITIZEN 
I feel foolish already. 

STATESMAN 
Now what is your trouble ? 

CITIZEN 
It's about ourselves, our big family here that we 
call the United States, and its relations with the oth- 
er families on this earth. 

STATESMAN 
That is a big question. 

CITIZEN 
Yes, 

STATESMAN 
That is a complex question. 

CITIZEN 
{Wearily.) I know. 

STATESMAN 
Just what phase of our international relations do 
you wish to discuss? 

CITIZEN 
I don't want to talk at all. 

STATESMAN 

What phase do you wish me to discuss? 

CITIZEN 

Don't put it that way or we'll never get along. I 
don't think about "phases" and "international rela- 
tions" ; I think of us as one big family and of all the 
rest as other big families. 

STATESMAN 

{Humoring him.) Very well, we'll deal in fam- 
ilies. 



10 UNDER THE EAGLE 

CITIZEN 
{Apologetically.) You see, I want to be con- 
vinced on my own ground. I'm thinking in families, 
and unless you convince in families, we shan't come 
out even. 

STATESMAN 
Well, what about our big family? 

CITIZEN 
(Seriously.) Many of our children have left 
home and gone out to seek their fortune. Some of 
them have gone to our next-door neighbor on the 
south. 

STATESMAN 
{Striking his level again.) Mexico. You want 
to take up the Mexican situation. 
CITIZEN 
{Distressed.) No, no; I don't! I don't know 
anything about it. {Sadly.) If you go on that 
way you'll prove your point — I can't argue about sit- 
uations and phases and policies — but you won't con- 
vince me. I'll still think what I think now, because 
I know those things about — about our children. 
STATESMAN 
You must be thinking of the pillaging and murder 
and so-forth that the Mexicans have done to our 
people. 

CITIZEN 
Yes; I am. {In surprise.) You — you think of 
that, too? 

STATESMAN 
Certainly. 

CITIZEN 
{In dread.) You believe it. You know! You 
admit ! 



THE PROLOGUE ii 

STATESMAN 

I couldn't deny it very well ; it is an incontestable 
fact. 

CITIZEN 
(Dismally.) Then I am not wrong? {His face 
brightening.) But there is a good reason for such 
things. 

STATESMAN 
There is a reason — the Mexicans pillage us be- 
cause they want our property; they kill us because 
they hate us. 

CITIZEN 
Why — why do we allow it? Tell me that. 

STATESMAN 

Now you are getting into the complications. 

CITIZEN 

Why? Why should there be complications? It is 
simple enough. A stranger goes about robbing and 
murdering my children. What should I do — a big 
strong man? 

STATESMAN 

Stop the crimes ; punish the criminal. 

CITIZEN 
Yes; that is what I think. Why don't we do it? 

STATESMAN 

{Explaining carefully.) With national action, 
you have a question of policy. It is not our policy 
to interfere. 

CITIZEN 

Even to stop the crimes against our children? 
What is a nation but the family magnified? What is 
its policy but the attitude of a mother toward her 
children ? 



12 UNDER THE EAGLE 

STATESMAN 

That's what it Is. 

CITIZEN 
Why are we not fair to our children ? 

STATESMAN 

We are as fair as possible under the circumstances. 

CITIZEN 

Tell me. I want to be convinced. 

STATESMAN 

You tell me. Would it be wise and just to jeop- 
ardize the interests and lives of all for the interests 
and lives of a few ? 

CITIZEN 
I should think it would be most unjust. 

STATESMAN 
There you have it. 

CITIZEN 

Then that is why we do not interfere ? 

STATESMAN 

That is why. 

CITIZEN 

{Happily.) You have given me a good reason 
there. I can see! I can see! {His face suddenly 
clouding.) But why should our interference jeopar- 
dize so many? 

STATESMAN 

Interference would mean war. 

CITIZEN 

Of course, and we mustn't have war. ( Thought- 
fully.) If we don't, though, these crimes go on 
and on. Still, as you say, it is better to jeopardize 
few than many. {Suddenly.) Why doesn't our 



THE PROLOGUE 13 

next-door neighbor give the other nations the same 
trouble ? 

STATESMAN 
He is afraid of the other nations. 

CITIZEN 
Isn't he afraid of us? 

STATESMAN 
No. 

CITIZEN 
We are just as big as the others. 

STATESMAN 
But not so strong. 

CITIZEN 
And our neighbor knows that, and because he 
knows it he dares to murder our children? 
STATESMAN 
Yes. 

CITIZEN 
But if we were strong like the other nations, and 
our neighbor knew it, he would not dare to trifle 
with us, our children would not suffer and we should 
not even have to consider going to war. 
STATESMAN 
That is true. 

CITIZEN 
(In fear.) Then there is something wrong — there 
must be! (Catching himself.) I forget! (Apolo- 
getically.) I'm thinking now that it is our lack of 
strength that is responsible for all this trouble, that 
we are really to blame. Tell me that I am wrong. 
STATESMAN 
I can't do that. 

CITIZEN 
(Pleadingly.) I want to be convinced. 



14 UNDER THE EAGLE 

STATESMAN 

But you are right this time. It is our lack of 
strength that is responsible for all this trouble. 
CITIZEN 
{Reluctantly.) Then there is something wrong 
after all; someone is culpable. You can't put me 
right. 

STATESMAN 
I can't argue away an incontestable fact. 

CITIZEN 
If we had a larger army — 

STATESMAN 
If we had a large, efficient army — Go on. 

CITIZEN 

Our army is quite inadequate? 

STATESMAN 

Quite. It is not large enough to win either fear 
or respect. They have dared much with us. 

CITIZEN 

{In a strangely quiet voice, as one speaks of a 
nightmare that has become reality.) Is it true that 
we have given up things that no one would have 
dared to ask for if we had been strong? 

STATESMAN 

Yes; that is true. 

CITIZEN 
{With lowered eyes.) Is it true that we must 
yield before we are asked to yield, to save our honor? 

STATESMAN 
Yes. 

CITIZEN 

Is it true that others have not attacked us, sim- 
ply because they have not been ready ? 



THE PROLOGUE 15 

STATESMAN 

Undoubtedly true ; we present no bulwark against 
them. 

CITIZEN 
(Very softly.) And If some day one of these na- 
tions should find itself ready, desirous of our land 
and treasure, would it be comparatively easy — ? Is 
that also incontestable? 

STATESMAN 
Incontestable. 

CITIZEN 
(Hopelessly.) Then I am not a fool! 

STATESMAN 

No — unless I, too, am one. I have agreed with 
you from the first, my friend. 

CURTAIN 



"WATCHFUL WAITING" 

Characters : 

The General. 

First Orderly. 

Second Orderly. 

An American Woman. 
Place : 

Headquarters of the General in a town of North- 
ern Mexico. 
Time: 

Present. 



"WATCHFUL WAITING" 

Scene: Rough room with doors R. and L. Win- 
dow at back. Table C. Chairs. It is early morning. 

At Rise: FIRST Orderly, a dirty Mexican sol- 
dier, dozes in a chair, his rifle beside him. 

{Enter, left, SECOND ORDERLY, a dirty 
Mexican soldier.) 

SECOND ORDERLY 

Jeh! Jeh! 

{FIRST ORDERLY wakes with a start and a 
look behind him. Seeing SECOND ORDERLY, 
he growls^) 

SECOND ORDERLY 

El general — la senora. 

FIRST ORDERLY 

SI, si! {He picks up his rifle and goes out slowly, 
right.) 

SECOND ORDERLY 

{Holding open door, left.) Entre usted, senora. 

{An AMERICAN WOMAN enters. She is 
fair, young pretty and dressed in a white linen riding 
habit. SECOND ORDERLY goes out, left, clos- 
ing door. The WOMAN stands waiting, swinging 
a riding crop impatiently. She is evidently angry.) 

FIRST ORDERLY 

{Re-entering and holding open door for someone 
outside.) La Norte-Americana. 

( The GENERAL enters. He is a typical Mexi- 
can — dark, with a heavy black mustache. He wears 
a uniform and a large sombrero. FIRST ORDER- 

19 



20 UNDER THE EAGLE 

LY closes door and takes post against it, where he 
soon dozes.) 

GENERAL 
(His hat in his hand, bowing and smiling.) Ah, 
sefiorfta 6 senora — ? 

WOMAN 
{Curtly.) Speak English. I am in a hurry and 
I want to be sure that we understand each other. 
GENERAL 
{Bowing.) With pleasure, senora. 

WOMAN 
Don't you know who I am ? 

GENERAL 

{Apologetically.) I regret — 
WOMAN 
I am Mrs. Welford — {Emphatically.) Mrs. 
James Welford. 

GENERAL 
{Politely.) Ah? The name, senora, is not fami- 
liar. 

WOMAN 
Mr. Welford is secretary of the United Mines 
Company. He is in sole charge of the property here 
since operations have been stopped. 

GENERAL 

{Graciously.) And the senora is the wife of Mr. 
Welford ? — charming ! 

WOMAN 

{Looking at him steadily.) My husband was ar- 
rested last night by your men. 

GENERAL 

{In horrified surprise.) Sefiora! but not by my 
orders — ! How can I — ! 



WATCHFUL WAITING 21 

WOMAN 

Of course not. But that is not the point. With 
the country in its present condition, mistakes and 
irregularities are often unavoidable. No one under- 
stands that better than I, but this — this arrest is too 
much. 

GENERAL 
I agree with the seiiora. 

WOMAN 
I have come here this morning to gain your assur- 
ance that such a piece of impudence will not occur 
again. Really, an apology, either by the officer in 
charge of the squad or by you, is due Mr. Welford. 
GENERAL 
Mr. Welford does not ask it himself? 

WOMAN 

{Angrily.) Mr. Welford is still in the custody 
of those pirates, I suppose. 

GENERAL 

{Horrified.) Ah! 

WOMAN 
{Her voice rising.) And you'd better not keep 
him there any longer. 

GENERAL 
{ Grieved but helpless. ) How could I — ? 

WOMAN 
Just send for him and you'll have a good chance 
to hear his opinion of the affair. Atrocious! {She 
turns away with an angry toss of her head. The 
GENERAL wrings his hands. Turning back to 
him.) Well? I'm sure any delay in making amends 
will not make that opinion any pleasanter to listen 
to. 



22 UNDER THE EAGLE 

GENERAL 
{Meekly.) Very true, of course. 

WOMAN 
Then don't delay. 

GENERAL 
But I would first make explanation of the — the of- 
fense. Unpardonable! but — my own difficulties — 

WOMAN 

{Bored.) Yes; I'll listen to you while Mr. Wel- 
ford is on his way over. Get your man off first. 
{He gives her a sidelong glance, then turns to the 
ORDERLY.) 

GENERA L 

Jeh! {FIRST ORDERLY wakens with a start 
and a look behind.) Tengan prisa! {The two 
stand watching while the FIRST ORDERLY 
opens the door, right, and repeats '^Tengan prisa." 
He then closes the door and settles back to sleep.) 

WOMAN 

Now I'll hear what you have to say. 
GENERAL 

{Humbly, inclining his head.) Gracias, sefiora. 
{She nods briefly.) Sefiora, the soldiers are not 
good. There is no discipline. What can I do ? 

WOMAN 

I'm sure no one knows if you don't. You are the 
officer in command. 

GENERAL 
But they will not obey me ; they do as they please. 

WOMAN 
Yes; because you all do as you please, officers as 
well as soldiers. Discipline must begin at the top and 
extend down to the bottom. With you it has not 



WATCHFUL WAITING 23 

even begun, and see what the lack of ft has done to 
your country. Ruin of life, ruin of property. Mur- 
der, pillage, burning, looting. It is hideous! No 
man is safe at his work by day or in his bed at night. 
And not content with destroying you fellow-coun- 
trymen, you have turned upon us Americans. We 
have entered your barbarous land and brought money 
and energy and progress. We have brought you all 
you have to be proud of, and for that you owe us 
vengeance. For our money you rob us ; for our ener- 
gy you throw us into your filthy prisons ; for the pro- 
gress we have made, you destroy our property and 
ruin our enterprises. What do you expect us to 
think of you? Bandits you are and bandits we call 
you. Why, as I came here this morning, your sol- 
diers were digging a grave at the very doorstep. I 
suppose it will shelter some hapless victim of your 
lack of discipline. 

GENERAL 

The sefiora is cruel ; she does not understand. 

WOMAN. 
Humph ! 

GENERAL 

The Americans are my friends. I know them for 
my great friends and I wish them no harm. It is not 
much time that I am in this town, but I have seen 
the sefior and the sefiora riding down to" the mine, 
the sefiora on her little brown horse, all dressed in 
white, riding in the sunlight, and I have — 

WOMAN. 

Then you did know me? 

GENERAL. 

Not the name, sefiora. 



24 UNDER THE EAGLE 

WOMAN, 

I see. {Impatiently.) Well, your man is slow. 
The commanding officer might do well to reprimand 
him. {She strolls toward the window.) 

GENERAL. 

{Apologetically.) The prison is crowded. It is 
difficult perhaps to find the pris — the Sefior Welford. 

WOMAN. 

{Glancing out.) So! the grave is finished. 

GENE'R.AL. 
And the officer commanding the squad ? Will the 
sefiora describe him? 

WOMAN. 
{Turning from the ivindow.) The man who ar- 
rested Mr. Welford ? 

GENERAL. 
Si, sefiora. 

WOMAN. 
{Thoughtfully, putting her crop on the chair.) 
He was short — about your height. 
GENERAL. 
Ah! 

WOMAN. 
And about your build. His face — I did not notice 
especially except — yes, he had a black mustache, 
something like yours. 

GENERAL. 
Ah? 

WOMAN. 

I really cannot describe him accurately. You 

Mexicans are all dark. It is hard for me to tell 

one from another. He had black eyes of course. 

{Laughing a little.) You see, I am hopeless. This 



WATCHFUL WAITING 25 

description could fit you as well as that pirate. He 
was very rough and coarse in his manner, that I re- 
member well. 

GENERAL. 

And the arrest? What happened, seiiora? 
WOMAN. 

It was about midnight. They broke in the door 
and seized Mr. Welford before he could reach his re- 
volver. There were six of them ; this officer seemed 
to be in command. They claimed that Mr. Welford 
had not paid taxes to the new town government, 
which is perfectly absurd, of course. Mr. Welford 
told them so and ordered them to leave the house. 
They refused to go. They seized him just as he was 
and dragged him, literally dragged him away. 
GENERAL 

(Curiously.) The sefiora was afraid? 

WOMAN 

There was nothing to be afraid of. I was angry. 

GENERAL, 

The sefiora is brave. 

WOMAN 

{Impatiently.) That is not the point. There is 
no necessity for bravery or cause for fear except, per- 
haps, on the part of the commanding officer who al- 
lowed such an outrage to be committed. 
GENERAL. 
{Helplessly.) Ah! sefiora! 
WOMAN 

{Growing angrier as she proceeds.) Really, you 
know, it makes me furious ; the whole affair is so im- 
pudent, so absurd, so unnecessary. You treat us as 



26 UNDER THE EAGLE 

though we were a lot of your dirty peons to be 
dragged about and clapt into prison. And here we 
are Americans, citizens of the United States, living 
here under our own flag, under the American Eagle, 
mind you ! and still you dare. Oh, you don't do us 
any real harm, of course. That would be to put your 
head into the lion's mouth, and you have no stomach 
for that. Oh, no! You simply rely on our natural 
disregard for little things and our unwillingness to 
bother our government, and so rob and annoy and 
insult us to your heart's content. Impudence! It's 
time we put a stop to this absurd forbearance on our 
part. Do you know, I've half a mind to leave you 
this minute and carry this affair to the President of 
the United States! {She goes toward the door.) 

GENERAL 
Senora! Stay, I beg! Only hear me! 

WOMAN 

{Her hand on the door.) No! I've had enough. 

GENERAL 

All I ask is justice. 

WOMAN 

Justice! Humph! {But she pauses.) 

GENERAL 
First I ask your pardon, I beg you to forgive this 
— this crime. {She is tapping the floor with her 
boot, her back to him.) For the past, I can do no 
more ; for the future, I make great effort, believe me. 
You speak of the condition of the country. Only lis- 
ten. Our people here are not like Americans; they 
are barbarous and ignorant and poor. They are 
downtrodden and so ignorant. Then comes to them 
the vision of liberty. {She turns to him.) It is the 



WATCHFUL WAITING 27 

same like the great American vision. {She takes a 
step toward him.) They rise up! They are ignor- 
ant. They are mad with the dream of liberty and 
the taste of power. They will not be controlled; 
they are just free after so long and they seek only 
vengeance. 

WOMAN 
(She is back by the chair j interested.) Yes; but 
they will accomplish nothing that way. The move- 
ment must be organized and directed to a certain 
point. They must have a leader. 
GENERAL 
(Sadly.) They have a leader, but he is not obeyed. 

WOMAN 
You must teach them. 

GENERAL 

If it were possible. But see, sefiora, what a trag- 
edy! (Striking his breast.) If this leader loves his 
country, if he has lived always, hoping to bring his 
people out of the dark of slavery into great freedom. 
If, at last, the great uprising comes — Ah, but the 
people do not understand! They will not be led. 
They will not obey. The leader is called a bandit. 
The great revolution must fail. Sefiora, it is hard ! 

WOMAN 

Of course it is, but not impossible. You haven't 
gone about it right, that's all. Why don't you edu- 
cate the people ? Explain the situation to them. Tell 
them that they can do nothing without organization, 
but that if they will unite and obey their leader ab- 
solutely, they shall win freedom. Stir them up! In- 
spire them ! Keep the idea of freedom in their minds 



28 UNDER THE EAGLE 

so that to gain It they will yield to the discipline. 
Then discipline them and you'll win out. 
GENERAL 
{Confidentially,) Senora, I have already begun 
to try the discipline. 

WOMAN 
Good! How did it work out? {She sits dowuj in- 
terested. ) 

GENERAL 
Alas ! the man refused to obey. He must die this 
morning. 

WOMAN 
{Seriously.) Oh! {Earnestly.) Well, you see it 
is the first time you have tried. You can't expect 
them to understand at once. It is a pity, but a few 
examples are necessary at first. 

GENERAL 
It is for this man that the soldiers have dug the 
grave. 

WOMAN 
Oh, I see. 

GENERAL 

He was very independent, this man ; he did always 

as he pleased. I am the officer in command here. 

Have I not a right to demand obedience? 

WOMAN 

Certainly, from everyone under your authority. 

GENERAL 
But I am supreme. 

WOMAN 
Then you should accomplish great things. 

GENERAL 
I ordered certain war taxes to be paid. It was a 
necessity. He refused to pay. 



WATCHFUL WAITING 29 

WOMAN 

Perhaps he thought that, being a soldier, he was 
exempt. Did you have it explained to him? 
GENERAL 

I explained to him myself that no one was exempt. 
He refused to pay. 

WOMAN 

Perhaps he had no money. 

GENERAL 

He has much, very much. He came to me here in 
this room. He swore he would never pay. I was not 
hard. I offered that he give me something else in- 
stead of money, something he had that I wanted. He 
was wild, that man. He insulted me — me, the com- 
manding officer! He would have killed me. I or- 
dered him to be seized and shot. 

WOMAN 

It is a pity for the man, but you will find it easy 
to collect the tax now. 

GENERAL 
And I have all the money instead of just a part. 

WOMAN 

{Nodding.) Confiscated, of course. 

GENERAL 
And something else that I wanted more than all 
his money. 

WOMAN 
The example for discipline. 

GENERAL 
Oh, so very much more, sefiora. 

WOMAN 

I hope it may improve the rioting dispositions of 
the rest. (Looking at the watch on her wrist.) They 



30 UNDER THE EAGLE 

are slow about Mr. Welford. I am sorry — for them. 
(She smiles*) , 

GENERAL 
There are few men at the prison. All are busy 
now with this unfortunate — (As the crack of rifles 
is heard. ) Ah ! 

WOMAN 
What? The execution? 

GENERAL 

They are through now. Now they will bring Mr. 
Welford up. 

WOMAN 

I hate to think of it — life going out like that, 
but — 

GENERAL 

{Sharply, to FIRST ORDERLY.) Parato! 

( The GENERAL stands by the table waiting, 
his head bent, one finger tapping the table. The 
FIRST ORDERLY rouses himself and goes yawn- 
ing across to door, left. 

FIRST ORDERLY 

{Opening the door and calling.) Jeh! Parato! 

{Enter the SECOND ORDERLY. He stands 
just inside the open door. The FIRST ORDERLY 
walks slowly back to door, right, and opens it. The 
WOMAN has picked up her crop and stands swing- 
nig it against the chair and talking as the orderlies 
move about.) 

WOMAN 

{Smiling brightly.) Well, I came here to be very 
angry and vindictive, and after all I shall not even 
let Mr. Welford give you his whole opinion. You 
see, he has been under arrest since midnight and 



WATCHFUL WAITING 31 

will not be in a very forgiving mood. We can't 
blame him either, for it was rather — unusual, you 
know. When you don't see the other side ! 

( The orderlies have reached their respective doors. 
They look at the GENERAL, tvhose head is still 
bentj as he listens and taps the table; at the IVO- 
MAN, siuinging her crop and smiling; then at each 
other and close the doors simultaneously.) 

WOMAN 

{With a little laugh.) How uncharitable we are 
sometimes before we understand ! {She becomes con- 
scious of the closing of the doors and glances about.) 

{The GENERAL has raised his eyes — just his 
eyes, beasfs eyes above bestial lips. 

{ The finger taps cease ; the riding crop stops 
siuinging. ) 

CURTAIN. 



YELLOW YIELDING 



Characters : 

A Mother, 

Her Son. 
Place : 

A cabin in the mountains. 
Time: 

Then J now and to come. 



YELLOW YIELDING 

Scene: The interior of a small log cabin. A 
door is on the right. At back are two windows with 
a stove between them. Sojne curtained shelves are 
built against the ivall, left. A table and three chairs 
occupy the center of the room. A wooden bench with 
a basin and pail of water stands against the wall, 
right. Above the bench hangs a roller towel. The 
luindows ai*e fitted with short curtains ^ that can be 
drawn across them and serve as shades. It is even- 
ing. 

At Rise: The curtains are parted, revealing a 
landscape of trees stripped by Autumn. The 
MOTHER is getting supper. She is a woman in 
middle life with the energy of youth in her bright 
eyes; the tenderness of age in her pleasant face. She 
is dressed in a coarse woolen dress and a wide ging- 
ham apron. 

{The MOTHER pauses in her operations from 
time to time to glance out the window. After her 
last survey she smiles and returns to the stove, hum- 
ming.) 

{Her SON enters, a powerfully built young man 
with a clear, frank face. He wears heavy boots and 
rough clothing. He enters slowly, closes the door and 
stands with his hand on the nob and his face avert- 
ed.) 

MOTHER 

{Stirring the victuals, cheerily.) You are late to- 
night, son. 

35 



36 UNDER THE EAGLE 

SON 

Mother, I saw the General just now. 

MOTHER 
He is well? The General is always well. Wash 
your hands; supper will soon be ready. {SON goes 
to the bench.) 

SON 
{Pouring water into the basin from the pail.) I 
met him on the Great Road. 

MOTHER 
And then had a long walk back across the fields. 
It is quite dark already; winter is coming. 

SON 
{Looking up at the wall in front of him.) Where 
is the gun? 

MOTHER 
The gun! Then you have only just noticed. I 
took it down months ago. 

SON 
{Fearfully.) You — you haven't thrown it away? 

MOTHER 
Not yet. I thought I should ask you first — you 
might have some sentiment, since it was your father's 
— then I forgot all about it. 

SON 
WTiere is it, mother? 

MOTHER 
Let me see! — somewhere — behind the stove. I 
think I dropped it there. 

SON 
{Hunting behind the stove.) I can't find it. It 
isn't here. 

MOTHER 
Under the wood-box perhaps. 



YELLOW YIELDING 37 

SON 
Yes, I have it. {He takes a rusty, old-fashioned 
gun from behind the stove.) 

MOTHER 

What are you going to do with it ? 

SON 
I — just clean it a little. 

MOTHER 
Dirty old thing! I'd throw it away. Sentiment 
for useless trash is rather silly. 

SON 

{Looking at the gun, to himself.) I know so 
little about it. {He fingers it, trying to take it 
apart. ) 

MOTHER 

In these days we don't have use for such things. 

SON 

Mother, why do they call him the General? 

MOTHER 

That comes from the old days, your father's day 
and mine and his father's, when this country was 
wild and rough. The gun wasn't hanging on the 
wall then ; it was standing in the corner or lying 
across your father's knees. Then the best shot was 
the best man. Your father was a good shot, but his 
father was better. It was for that we named him, 
and his son has naturally come to the name after 
him. 

SON 

The General is a good shot. {As he comprehends 
the mechanism of the gun.) There! 

MOTHER 

So they say. He keeps in practice. 



38 UNDER THE EAGLE 

SON 
I don't know how to shoot at all. 

MOTHER 
How should you know, when you've never been 
taught ? 

SON 
Why wasn't I taught? My father was a good 
shot; he must have known. 

MOTHER 
He did know that it would never be necessary for 
you to learn any such thing. These are different 
times we're living in now. People don't shoot and 
fight and plunder each other any more. We have a 
new ideal, my son — to live at peace with the world, 
each man in his own place. 

SON 
You believe that, mother? 

MOTHER 

And you believe it, too. 

SON 
What does the General believe? 

MOTHER 
The same, I suppose. 

SON 

Then why does he practice shooting? 

MOTHER 

For amusement. Bless you, my son, we don't care 
what the General believes ; we have only ourselves 
to answer for. 

SON 

But, mother — (His face hardens.) 

MOTHER 

Supper is ready, and you must be hungry. 



YELLOW YIELDING ^^ 

SON 

(Turning away.) Not very, just now. 

MOTHER 
Why, what Is the matter? 
SON 
Mother, why did you give the Great Road to the 
General ? 

MOTHER 
I ? He told you ! 

SON 
Yes. 

MOTHER 
It was not my fault, dear. Your father prom- 
ised it to his father, and I was in honor bound to 
fulfill that promise. 

SON 
I don't see why. Father built the road with his 
own money and labor. He meant that the General 
should use it, but not without pay. Why should 
my father have labored and paid for the General's 
comfort and profit? 

MOTHER 
Because your father — whatever he meant — gave 
the General to understand that the road would be 
his without pay. It was so the General under- 
stood the promise. We cannot cloud your father's 
memory by breaking that promise. Honor is higher 
than all else. 

SON 
But what about the money? I must pay and pay 
and pay that the General may profit. I made no 
promise, yet my patrimony must be spent to satisfy 
the General's keen sense of honor, I wonder if he 
calls it honorable to take from me without paying? 



40 UNDER THE EAGLE 

MOTHER 

Sh ! You are excited ! It is not the General's fault, 
but your father's. He should have had a clear un- 
derstanding. As for the money, that is nothing. You 
are a better farmer than the General; you have 
learned to plow instead of to shoot. You are richer 
than he. The trifle it will take to keep the road in 
repair need not really matter to you. 

SON 
What about the principle? 

MOTHER 
It is a good principle — when we can afford it — to 
be big and generous, to overlook trifles for our hon- 
or's sake. 

SON 
Very well. {In a hard voice.) The General 
wants the South Pasture. 

MOTHER 
What do you mean? 

SON 
Just that ! — the General wants the South Pasture. 

MOTHER 
He wants the South Pasture ? Tell him we do not 
wish to sell. 

SON 
He does not wish to buy. 

MOTHER 
Well—? 

SON 
You have given him the Great Road, and now he 
wants the South Pasture. 

MOTHER 
He would not expect us to give him our land. He 
is playing you a joke. 



YELLOW YIELDING 41 

SON 

Mother, it is not a joke. 

MOTHER 
Then the man is crazy. People don't do such 
things in this day. If we were living in the Stone 
Age perhaps — barbarians! But now! — for him to 
suggest such a thing! What can he be thinking of? 

SON 
That we have land and he has none; that he is 
strong and we are weak; that he will barter his 
strength for our land. 

MOTHER 
Fortunately, Civilization will not allow it. 

SON 
Civilization! What is it? You speak as though 
it were a power created for your protection. It is 
not a power and it does not belong exclusively to 
you. It is a result that he has helped to make as 
well as you — he with his practice of shooting. He is 
stronger than we ; the law is his, and will accord him 
as much as he has power to take. 
MOTHER 
The South Pasture! 

SON 
Yes. I suppose we can live even then ; we shall 
still have this house and garden. 
MOTHER 
If we thought of accepting his insane proposals, 
but we do not. 

SON 
You gave him the Great Road. 

MOTHER 
That is a different matter. This time he has not 
the shadow of a claim ; he is trying to see how far he 



42 UNDER THE EAGLE 

can go. We'll stop him right here. 

SON 
(Slowly.) Yes; I thought that was the right — 

MOTHER 
(Decidedly.) It is the only thing to do. (Son 
begins to clean the gun.) What can the man ex- 
pect? Your father's property! His son's inheritance! 
And 'twas hard winning, too ! Wild beasts and wild 
men to be subdued ! Elements to be braved ! Bought 
with sweat and blood, with labor and agony in the 
making. Your father and I conquered it together 
for our son, who alone has the right to the product 
of our travail. 

SON 
Yes, mother; you are right. 

MOTHER 
Then comes this upstart to demand our winnings, 
simply because he is a strong brute with desires. He 
will find that we, who have braved monsters before 
are not afraid. 

SON 
No, no! (Nervously.) Only — this gun! It is so 
rusty ! I don't think it will shoot at all. 
MOTHER 
(Horrified.) Shoot! My son, I do not mean to go 
as far as that. 

SON 
It is the General's doing; not mine. To-night he 
comes for his answer. If we yield, he is satisfied; if 
we refuse to yield, he will fight. Where is the am- 
munition ? 

MOTHER 
But you cannot fight with the General. He would 
kill you at once. 



YELLOW YIELDING 43 

SON 
Yes; he will kill me. {A knock at the door.) 
That is he ! Quick ! The ammunition ! 
MOTHER 
I don't know where it is. You will not fight. 
Go! Speak to him. Give me the gun. (He yields 
the gun reluctantly.) Tell him how we stand. 
Appeal to his reason and his sense of justice. Tell 
him we wish to be friends. 

SON 
{Going.) Then, mother, while I am gone, will 
you find the ammunition ? 

MOTHER 
Yes, yes ! You will not need it. Be friendly with 
him. Compromise if necessary. {The SON goes 
out, closing the door.) It will be all right. There! 
I must find the ammunition. {She hunts.) Where 
can it be? There will be no need of it anyway. 
{Looking on the shelves.) Here! {Gathering up two 
cartridges.) One — two cartridges. That is enough 
for our purpose. {SON re-enters. He is very pale.) 
Well? 

SON 
Have you found it? 

MOTHER 

What—? 

SON 

It is no use; he will not compromise. We must 
give him the South Pasture or fight. Give me the 
ammunition. 

MOTHER 

{Slowly.) No — I can't do that. {With decision.) 
Y'ou must not fight; he would only kill you. I've, 



44 UNDER THE EAGLE 

been thinking. It is better to give him the South 
Pasture. 

SON 
Mother! is that right? I am not afraid! 

MOTHER 

It is right. 

SON 
(Bitterly.) He will have the South Pasture. My 
inheritance ! 

MOTHER 
Don't keep him vv^aiting. It will not do to exas- 
perate him. 

SON 
(Violently.) He is a thief! 

MOTHER 

(Putting her hand over his mouth.) Hush! 
Hush! (She holds him for an instant. When he is 
calm she lets him go.) Now go. 

SON 

(In a low voice.) I am strong! — stronger than 
he and younger. If I knew how to shoot! (He turns 
away with a hoarse sound like a sob in his throat 
and goes out.) 

MOTHER 

(Nervously J bustling about the room.) Of course 
that is right. It is the only thing to do. He would 
kill my son, and then the property would be worth- 
less to me. (SON re-enters with bowed head and 
sits at table.) After all, we have more than we 
need. We must not be greedy. The General had 
not so much as we. We can still live quite cozily 
here with the house and garden left. The South 
Pasture was a great care, too. Now we can have a 



YELLOW YIELDING 45 

little rest instead of always working. Besides, I 
could not let you die. Any sacrifice to save my son. 
What is the matter ? 

SON 
Nothing. 

MOTHER 
What did the General say ? 

SON 

He laughed. 

MOTHER 

Let him laugh. I have saved my son ; I know that 
I am right. What do I care for his laughing? 

SON 
He said something, too. 

MOTHER 

Well, what did he say? 

SON 

He called you a coward ! 

MOTHER 

Pooh ! His opinion is nothing to me. He is an old 
liar anyway. 

SON 
(Deliberately.) It is the truth — you are a cow- 
ard! 

MOTHER 
(Horrified.) What! You are not my son! 

SON 

But I am! I am the son you have reared and 
taught; for whom you have striven and bled and 
piled up a vast inheritance. I am the son you have 
deceived and tricked and made into a helpless crea- 
ture. You gave me all you had ; you taught me all 
you knew — all but the first law, the law of life, the 



46 UNDER THE EAGLE 

law of self-defense, the law by which I might learn 
to hold my heritage in the face of the strong ones of 
the earth. You could have made me a man among 
men ; you have left me a child among giants. If my 
neighbor is good-natured he laughs at me ; if he is ill- 
natured, he beats me. Good or bad, I am at his 
mercy. Where is the honor in that? What is strong 
or noble or inspiring in such pitiful helplessness? 

MOTHER 

How could I know what was right ? We did what 
seemed best. The country was no longer wild ; the 
world seemed civilized. There was only one man — 

SON 

That one man makes all the difference. Wild! 
Civilized! Don't you know that a country is wild 
as long as it holds a single wild man ? While there 
is one man prepared to kill, all must be so prepared 
in self-defense. The world is as civilized as the one 
most barbarous of all men. 

MOTHER 

We did not think of that. It seemed that the age 
of peace and good-will had come. 

SON 

Yes! You built up a dream to please your taste 
and used it to blind yourselves into deceit and your 
child into a death-trap. 

MOTHER 
If I have been wrong, I am sorry. I acted for the 
best, and it has turned out the worst. There is noth- 
ing I can do now. But listen to this: Right or 
wrong, in the past, in the present I am right. What 
does anything matter when life is at stake? It was 
you or the South Pasture, and I chose you. 



YELLOW YIELDING 47 

SON 

Because you are a coward! You are afraid to 
have me fight, because you know I should be killed. 
You are afraid to see my blood run, because it would 
dye you red with guilt for keeping me as ignorant as 
the miserable living bait at the mouth of the trap. 
{Picking up the cartridges.) Only two! 
MOTHER 
What are you doing? 

SON 
{Loading the gun.) Preparing, as well as I can, 
for the General's next visit. 

MOTHER 
He will not come again ; there is nothing more to 
be had. 

SON 
The house and garden. 

MOTHER 
But this is all we have. If this is taken, we have 
nowhere to go. He is reasonable enough to know 
that we must live somewhere. 

SON 
Yes; he is very reasonable. He reasons that as 
long as he is stronger than we, he can take from us 
everything — to the very last. 

MOTHER 
It Is better to die than to be a homeless beggar. 

SON 
That is what we shall do — I first and you after- 
wards. He will return. At the eleventh hour, you 
will hand me this rusty gun and bid me go out to 
fight for our home^ — I, ignorant, helpless child, 
against the General. There will be nothing else to 
do. 



48 UNDER THE EAGLE 

MOTHER 

(In exaltation.) No! That can never come to 
*"a'^<!. You have forq-otten our birthright. We were 
horn under the Ea<rle — the Eagle of Liberty! We 
<^ome from the strongest of the earth, and all man- 
kind respect us. He will not spill your blood or rob 
our treasure or violate our home, because he will not 
dare — with the Eagle guarding us. It is tradition — 
religion! We are above such devastation! 

SON 
{After a pause.) Perhaps! I am tired. 

MOTHER 
{Smiling.) And hungry. The supper is all cold. 
I'll warm it again. Your favorite supper, too. 

SON 
Somehow, I am not hungry. 

MOTHER 
Oh. ro^p! Try a cun of coffee fir^t. then the rest 
will be hot. {Brings him coffee.) Isn't that good? 

SON 
{After tasting it.) Yes; mother. {With a shiv- 
er.) I am cold. 

MOTHER 
We'll put on more wood. There! A roaring fire! 
And here's the supper steaming hot. {She brings 
supper to him.) 

SON 
It does smell good. 

MOTHER 
I thought so. 

SON 
{Eating.) I'm hungry after all. I've been work- 
ing on the new ditch all day. 

{MOTHER goes to the stove, smiling. A knock 



YELLOW YIELDING 49 

at the door. MO THER listens with fear in her face. 
SON does not hear but continues eating and talk- 
ing. ) 

SON 
It's the ditch I'm building across the barren part 
of the garden to bring the water down. 

MOTHER 

Yes; I understand. {She goes to the window, 
right, and looks out. The bare trees have been swal- 
lowed up in darkness.) 

SON 

I want to make that part of the garden blossom 
like a paradise. 

MOTHER 

{Who has turned aivay from the window with a 
ghastly face.) Yes. {She slowly draws the curtains 
and goes to the zuindow, left.) 

SON 

It will be beautiful ! Fruit-trees in rows along the 
ditch and flowers back of them. Do you think flow- 
ers are silly? 

MOTHER 

{At window, left.) No. 

SON 

One must have some beauty. {MOTHER 
draws the curtains, left.) 

MOTHER 

{Turning from the window.) What kind of flow- 
ers? 

SON 

Oh, poppies and roses and — all the bright ones. 

{She comes to the center of the room and stands 
there, her eyes fixed on her son.) 



50 UNDER THE EAGLE 

SON 

It will be like a picture. I can imagine it now. 
The blue water, the ripe fruit and the bright flowers, 
all under the sunshine. What do you think, mother? 
Won't it be beautiful ? 

( There is a silence. The SON turns in surprise 
and looks into his mother s eyes.) 

MOTHER 

Mother! What—? 

(She points to the window, her eyes following her 
hand. ) ' ' 

SON 
What are you looking at ? 

MOTHER 

The curtains are drawn. 

SON 
What do you see? 

MOTHER 

Nothing — it is night. 

( The knock resounds on the door. The SON rises 
slowly. Silently, the MOTHER takes the gun and 
puts it into his hands.) 

CURTAIN 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 

Characters : 

The Prominent Citizen. 

His Servant. 

The GeneraVs Interpreter. 
Place : 

A seaport town. 
Time: 

In the hands of the Fates. 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 

Scene: The comfortable library of a bachelors 
apartment J on the top floor of a select hotel. Doors 
right and left. Windows at back. View from the 
windows of roofs and chimneys. It is very early 
morning. 

At Rise : The room is dark and deserted. 

{The CITIZEN unlocks the door, right, and en- 
ters. He is in evening dress.) 

CITIZEN 

Where's the light? What's the meaning of this? 
{Calling.) Marks! I say, Marks! {In disgust.) 
Asleep, I suppose. He's getting worse every day, 
that fellow. {Stumbles about, groping for the 
switch.) Where in — There! {He finds switch and 
turns on the light. Grumbles.) Got sleepy and too 
stupid to remember that I was out. Then he turns 
out the light and goes to bed. We'll see about it. 
{Opening door, left, and calling.) Marks! Marks! 
{Closes door. An idea comes to him.) Or he went 
out on a spree, thinking to get back before I did. 
Probably been doing it right along. I'll cashier 
him, that's all. {Eye falling on the clock.) Fo — It 
is four o'clock! I thought we were almighty slow 
coming up-town. Why the devil should there be a 
traffic jam at this hour of the night and morning? 
Four o'clock! He must be in. {Calling through 
door.) Marks! {Turning.) No! {Silly.) Ah, I 
see! It was so late, he thought I was staying out for 
the night and saw his chance. He'll have a surprise 

53 



54 UNDER THE EAGLE 

in the morning. {He takes off his coat. Footsteps 
are heard outside door, right. He listens.) Marks! 
Now we shall see! {He switches off the light.) 

{The door, right, opens and the SERVANT en- 
ters, panting. He closes the door after him, leans 
against it for an instant, then advances across the 
room, his breath coming in a sob.) 

{The CITIZEN switches on the light.) 

SERVANT 
My God! {He crouches down as though to avoid 
a blow.) 

CITIZEN 
Well, Marks! 

SERVANT 
Oh, it's you, sir. 

CITIZEN 
I didn't stay out all night as you expected. 

SERVANT 

No, sir. 

CITIZEN 
{Angrily.) What do you mean by coming in the 
front door? 

SERVANT 
{Hopelessly.) I didn't think it mattered now. 

CITIZEN 
Your service is over. Leave to-morrow, to-day, 
as soon as it is light. 

SERVANT 
Yes, sir. 

CITIZEN 
Leave at once! 

SERVANT 
Yes, sir. This is really terrible. 



''BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 55 

CITIZEN 

I'm glad you appreciate the situation. 

SERVANT 
What are you going to do? 

CITIZEN 
{Staring at him in amazement.) What am I going 
to do? 

SERVANT 
They will take everything. You wouldn't want to 
stay around after that, would you ? 
CITIZEN 
After what ? What are you talking about ? 

SERVANT 
After they take possess — My Grod ! don't you know 
what has happened? 

CITIZEN 
You've gone crazy! 

SERVANT 
( Wildly.) We're invaded ! The enemy has come ! 
They've taken the city and the harbor and all the 
roads. They keep pouring in, hundreds of them. I 
saw them ! There is nothing to be done. We're in- 
vaded ! 

CITIZEN 
{Aside.) Better get a doctor. {He goes to the 
telephone.) 

SERVANT 
You can't get a connection ; there is no one in the 
office. 

CITIZEN 
{At telephone.) Hello! Hello! 

SERVANT 
They've all gone. 



56 UNDER THE EAGLE 

CITIZEN 
Queer! {He leaves telephone and puts on coat.) 

SERVANT 
Don't go out. What good will it do? They are 
everywhere. 

CITIZEN 
Sh! It's all right, Marks. I'm going to get a 
doctor. 

SERVANT 
You won't believe me. I'm not crazy; it's the 
truth. {Going to the window.) Come! {At win- 
dow. ) See ! There is not a taxi in the line ; they have 
taken them all. 

CITIZEN 
{Looking out.) The traffic jam! 

SERVANT 
You saw it? Their wagon-train. 

CITIZEN 
{Incredulous.) Nobody seemed to notice it. 

SERVANT 
They are so quiet, so orderly, so natural. Nobody 
realized. Now they are in possession. 
CITIZEN 
Who are they? 

SERVANT 
The enemy! They have really come. 

CITIZEN 
{With an incredulous laugh.) It isn't so! It can't 
be ! Our own troops are having special manoeuvres. 
The War Department has been talking about that 
sort of thing lately. They're our own men demon- 
strating their efficiency 

SERVANT 
I saw them; they are not our own men. 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 57 

CITIZEN 

Perhaps it's a little uprising — foreign laborers or 
something. The police will settle it in the morning. 

SERVANT 
They are soldiers, soldiers of the enemy. 

CITIZEN 

Then we shall whip them and send them home. 
It can't be anything in force or we'd have heard 
something about it. It may be an unauthorized at- 
tempt on the part of a warship commander to get 
even with us for some fancied insult. He'll be in 
as much trouble from his own country as from ours. 

SERVANT 

Thousands of men! — I saw them — and horses! 
Guns and wagons! They are coming now! 

{It has grown light enough outside so that the 
chimneys are visible. Among them, on a tall staff j 
hangs the Flag.) 

CITIZEN 

{Leaning out.) Yes, yes ! I see ! How many! Yes 
— yes, they are the enemy. What does it mean? 
Look at the men and horses and guns! How many! 

SERVANT 
They are driving the people before them! 

CITIZEN 

{Furiously.) This is too much! But I'm glad 
it's happened. We have stood enough from them and 
all the others, too. It's time we gave them a les- 
son. By Heaven, they ought to be shot, every one 
of them! {Shaking his fist.) Wait till Uncle Sam's 
army gets you ! Just wait ! 

{A knock at the door. The SERVANT opens 
it and goes out.) 



58 UNDER THE EAGLE 

CITIZEN 

The people running before them! Our people! 
Running before them/ My God! 
SERVANT 
(Re-entering.) We must get out of here at once. 
The General wants this apartment for an observa- 
tion station. 

CITIZEN 
Does he indeed! 

SERVANT 
It's the view of the harbor. Sir, we'd better go. 

CITIZEN 
Go? Go! Do you think I'd go? Do you think I'd 
leave my own place because that murderer, who 
commands those rats orders it? Do you think I'd 
do anything he told me to do? Oh — ho! Let him 
try to make me! 

SERVANT 
Everybody else has left the hotel. 

CITIZEN 
Then — damn them ! — there's one that won't go. 
(Knock at the door is repeated.) 

SERVANT 
(Nervously.) What shall I say? He's trying to 
be polite. 

CITIZEN 
Send the General to me, that's all. (He takes a 
revolver from the table drawer.) 
SERVANT 
(Frightened.) Oh, no sir! 

CITIZEN 
I want to talk to him. 

SERVANT 
He doesn't speak English. 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 59 

CITIZEN 

Get someone that does. I'll talk to any one of 
them. Haven't much choice among rats. 

{The INTERPRETER enters quickly. He is a 
little man in uniform. The SERVANT gasps.) 
CITIZEN 
(Covering INTERPRETER with revolver.) 
Stop ! Who are you ? 

INTERPRETER 
(Calmly.) The General's Interpreter. 

SERVANT 
(Timidly.) Hadn't we better stand together, 
sir? 

CITIZEN 

Stand where you please! I'll manage this myself. 

(As INTERPRETER advances.) Stop! or I shoot. 

INTERPRETER 

Shoot, if you like ; you will be shot afterwards. 

CITIZEN 
I might do something else first. 

INTERPRETER 
Escape? You might jump out the window. There 
are soldiers at both entrances. (CITIZEN lowers 
his revolver.) Better give it to me. 

(CITIZEN looks at him, then puts the revolver 
on the table. INTERPRETER pockets it.) 
CITIZEN 
Now we can talk. 

INTERPRETER 
I'll give you five minutes — till the General arrives. 

CITIZEN 
The General! What are you people trying to do 
anyway? Are j^ou crazy? This is the United States, 
and we are living in the twentieth century. What 



6o UNDER THE EAGLE 

do you mean by landing an armed force on our soil 
and marching an army through our city and ordering 
me to get out of my home? What in the name of 
Heaven do you mean ? 

INTERPRETER 
Our meaning should be easily comprehended. 

CITIZEN 
But you've broken the law, violated our — our In- 
tegrity, invaded our land. Don't you know that you 
will be punished? 

INTERPRETER 
We are not anticipating any such thing. 

CITIZEN 
But you will be. Our army, the Army of the 
United States, will be rushed out. You will be sur- 
rounded and probably annihilated. You've gone too 
far to make excuses. Why, I expect the army will 
be here in — in a very short time. 

INTERPRETER 
We are prepared for that. 

CITIZEN 
You mean to fight? 

INTERPRETER 
Certainly. 

CITIZEN 
You fool! What do you expect to gain? 

INTERPRETER 
What we have come for. 

CITIZEN 
That must be a good beating; it's what you'll get. 
How did you get in here anyway? The harbor is 
mined. 

INTERPRETER 
We did not come bv the harbor. 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 6i 

CITIZEN 

So much the worse for you. You'll wish you hadn't 
come at all, when the army arrives. 
INTERPRETER 
When It arrives. 

CITIZEN 
Yes. 

INTERPRETER 
How soon do you think that will be? 

CITIZEN 
As soon as It hears of your crazlness. 

INTERPRETER 
We have cut all the communications with the rest 
of the country. 

CITIZEN 
News will get through just the same — a day of 
two late perhaps. I don't begrudge you two days 
of grace when I think of what's coming to you. 
INTERPRETER 
In the meantime, we take possession of all the 
mountain passes and fortify them. 
CITIZEN 
Lots of good that will do you. 

INTERPRETER 
It will easily keep your army at bay for a long 
time, — your little army! 

CITIZEN 
What about the army on this side of the moun- 
tains ? 

INTERPRETER 
Here? 

CITIZEN 
{Enjoying his surprise.) At your back! The mili- 
tia! 



62 UNDER THE EAGLE 

INTERPRETER 

Oh! (Hiding a smile.) In this state you have 
— several hundred. 

CITIZEN 
Yes, thank goodness ! At this very minute they are 
in the hills, preparing to attack you in the rear. 
INTERPRETER 
Yes; they are probably in the hills. 

CITIZEN 
Just wait! You haven't met the good fighting 
American yet. 

INTERPRETER 

We are not really afraid. You see, it occurred to 

us to seize all their equipment in the arsenals and 

armories first. So they are quite as helpless as you. 

CITIZEN 

No guns ! No ammunition ! 

INTERPRETER 
No. By this time even the revolvers have been 
collected. 

CITIZEN 
(Quickly.) I'll buy mine back. 
INTERPRETER 
Impossible. 

CITIZEN 
( Offering money.) Here ! A hundred dollars ! 

INTERPRETER 
(Annoyed.) No, no. 

CITIZEN 
Two hundred ! 

INTERPRETER 
Impossible. 

CITIZEN 
What do you want anyway? 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 63 

INTERPRETER 

Thank you, we shall take what we want. 

CITIZEN 

What is it? 

INTERPRETER 

That depends. We already hold the entire coast 
back to the mountains. 

CITIZEN 
The entire coast! 

INTERPRETER 
Yes. We have done everywhere what we have 
done here. 

CITIZEN 
Just the same ? 

INTERPRETER 

Just the same. 

CITIZEN 

You have all the passes? 

INTERPRETER 
Every one. 

CITIZEN 

You have disarmed all the militia? 

INTERPRETER 
We have disarmed everyone. 

CITIZEN 

Then there's nothing to do but wait. I can wait 
to see you scoundrels eat dirt. 

INTERPRETER 

Your wait will be a long one. Think of your 
miserable little army, gathering itself slowly to- 
gether from the four corners of the earth. By the 
time it has found itself, we are securely fortified in 



64 UNDER THE EAGLE 

our position — this rich, fertile country, guarded 
toward the sea by our fleet, on land by that great 
mountain chain. You have neither guns nor am- 
munition. Both must be secured. More delay. We 
have the people thoroughly subjugated and are reap- 
ing our first harvest. 

CITIZEN 

You have forgotten the fleet. 

INTERPRETER 
Oh, no; we have one, too — only it is larger than 
yours. {As before.) Now your army is ready. It 
inarches to the passes — one hundred thousand strong, 
perhaps — to hurl itself again and again, vainly, dis- 
astrously against that mighty wall of rock and those 
passes backed by hundreds of thousands of our men. 
The time will pass very slowly. 

CITIZEN 
(Bitterly.) If we had been ready for you, you 
would never have dared. 

INTERPRETER 
But you were not ready. 

CITIZEN 
No. 

SERVANT 

{At the window.) The flag! They are going to 
take it down! 

CITIZEN 

{Rushing to the window.) Where? Ah! {Wild- 
ly.) They mustn't do it! They can't {Turning to 
the INTERPRETER. ) Tell them ! Quick ! before 
it is too late. This is my country still — ^your being 
here doesn't make any difference, — it is still my 



"BOMBAST AND PLATITUDES" 65 

country, just the same as yesterday. Tell them not 
to take the flag away. That is the Eagle ! It has al- 
ways been there, ever since w^e started — up there — 
above us. It's got to stay there! can't you see? It 
belongs there always, always, from the beginning. If 
the Eagle goes down — Ah! {He rushes to the win- 
dow and tears it open.) 

INTERPRETER 

{Seizing him.) Don't make a fool of yourself. 
That flag accomplishes nothing. We are here any- 
way. It is only a symbol for the world to see. While 
it floats there, the world sees that the land is yours, 
the city, the mountains and the harbor ; when it falls 
— {The Flag drops out of sight.) Ah! Now it is 
all ours. 

{The CITIZEN covers his face with his hands. 
Sound of footsteps outside j right.) 

INTERPRETER 

{In a harsh voice.) You must get out of here 
at once; the General has come. 

{To CITIZEN.) Come, sir. {They start 
toward door^ right.) 

INTERPRETER 

No! — the back way. Quick! {They go toward 
door, left. At the door the CITIZEN turns. 

CITIZEN 
{ To INTERPRETER.) Wait ! The soldiers in 
the fort. Our regulars in the fort on the harbor. 
What has become of them ? They were armed. 

INTERPRETER 
Yes. There w^ere about a hundred and fifty of 
them. It was night — very dark — and they did not 
expect us. We — It was all over very quickly. 



66 UNDER THE EAGLE 

(The CITIZEN and his SERVANT go out 
door, left. The INTERPRETER opens the door 
right,, and stands at salute. No one has thought of 
turning off the light. It burns pale yellow against a 
background of day.) 

CURTAIN 



EPILOGUE 



EPILOGUE 

Scene: The STATESMAN'S office as in pro- 
logue. 

At Rise: The STATESMAN and the CITI- 
ZEN are still in their chairs. They have talked a 
long time. 

STATESMAN 
(Rising.) Now it is all clear? 

CITIZEN 

(Rising.) Quite clear. I came to be convinced 
that I was wrong to worry over our weak position. 
Instead you have shown me how right I am. And 
you are not at fault at all. 

STATESMAN 

My dear sir, I can recommend and recommend, 
but my power ends there. The people are all-power- 
ful. What they desire, they get. If they wish to 
safe-guard themselves, they can do so, and they only. 

CITIZEN 

They must be made to do so. Can you suggest a 
way? 

STATESMAN 
You are willing to do all you can? 

CITIZEN 

I will do anything. 

STATESMAN 

Well, then — 

CITIZEN 
There if a way. 

69 



70 UNDER THE EAGLE 

STATESMAN 

There is always a way. You remember the name 
you gave me, when you came in? 
CITIZEN 
I called myself the thinking citizen, didn't I ? 

STATESMAN 
If you wish to help, make of every man you meet 
a Thinking Citizen. 

CURTAIN 



